Henry Sullivan saw people who looked like husband and wife strangling each other like strangers, people who looked like father and daughter biting and clawing at each other, shrieking wildly, and people who looked like brothers turning against each other, punching and kicking. What was once a tranquil valley had in an instant become a living hell. Only then did he understand why Edward Carter was determined to eliminate the Maitreya Buddha—it was truly the bloodshed and cruelty here that was utterly appalling!

　　Philip Carter and James Bolton had already fallen into the midst of the crowd’s assault. Edward Carter was secretly alarmed, and suddenly recalled an incident from the past, inwardly crying out that things were bad.

　　It turned out that during the reign of Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei, there was a man in Jizhou named Franklin Grant, who proclaimed himself the “New Buddha” and founded the so-called “Great Vehicle Buddha,” appointing George Smith as the Ten Abiding Bodhisattva. Other sects all emphasized saving others and oneself, encouraging goodness and rescuing people, but this New Buddha advocated becoming a Buddha through killing, and the more people killed, the better. This Great Vehicle Buddha had a drug that could cause people to lose their minds, turning fathers and sons against each other, husbands and wives into enemies. Later, Franklin Grant and George Smith stirred up a great storm, and although they were eventually suppressed by the court, unexpectedly, today, the events of those years were repeating themselves!

　　But what was the purpose of this rebellious Maitreya Buddha, making his followers slaughter each other at Feilong’ao?

　　Edward Carter had no time to think further. With a sharp whistle, he suddenly leapt into the air, his toes tapping, actually stepping across the heads of the common people. As soon as his whistle began, he was already in the air; before it ended, he had reached the high platform.

　　The crowd was stunned by his whistle, and there was a moment of peace. The Four Heavenly Kings heard the whistle and were all astonished, not expecting that besides Philip Carter and the others, there was another master hidden in Feilong’ao. The Heavenly King of Holding the Nation saw Edward Carter charging over and shouted, “What demon are you? Come to die!” With a flick of his wrist, a broadsword appeared in his hand, and with a loud shout, he slashed at Edward Carter’s head. The force of the blade, mixed with rain, came crashing down with astonishing momentum. He wanted to force Edward Carter off the wooden platform with a single blow, and with the commoners already having lost their minds, they would naturally trap Edward Carter.

　　With a cold snort, Edward Carter advanced instead of retreating, brushing past the blade’s edge. The sharp blade sliced off a piece of Edward Carter’s robe, but with a stretch of his hand, he grabbed the Heavenly King’s wrist, snatched his broadsword, and with a backhanded elbow, struck the opponent’s chest. With a loud bang, the Heavenly King staggered back several steps, feeling his blood surge, and was shocked. As one of the Four Heavenly Kings under the Maitreya Buddha, his martial arts were beyond question, but Edward Carter had suddenly burst forth, seized his weapon in a single move, and nearly made him cough up blood—such martial skill, the Heavenly King had never seen before.

　　Edward Carter also felt a chill in his heart. Though his elbow strike was rushed, it could have killed an ox; he thought that even if he couldn’t kill the Heavenly King, he could at least break a few of his ribs. Unexpectedly, the Heavenly King’s physique was so robust that the blow only made him retreat a few steps. Edward Carter reacted swiftly, having disarmed and repelled his foe, he stepped forward again, the single blade in his hand tracing a clear arc through the rain as he slashed at the Heavenly King. The Heavenly King dared not take the blow and rolled off the wooden platform. Having driven him back, Edward Carter did not hesitate, focused his strength in his arm, and shouted fiercely, “Demon, meet your end!” At that moment, a bolt of lightning split the sky, illuminating the land. Edward Carter’s single blade flew like lightning, striking directly at the belly of the Maitreya Buddha!

　　Edward Carter’s attack was both real and feigned, seemingly aimed at the Heavenly King, but he had reserved all his strength for assassinating the Maitreya Buddha. This thrown blade was like a thunderbolt; the Maitreya Buddha was heavy and clumsy—how could it possibly dodge such a shocking strike?

　　With a loud bang, the golden Buddha exploded into fragments. Edward Carter had succeeded in one move, but was secretly alarmed: the Maitreya Buddha was hollow, but there was no one inside! The master of the Maitreya Buddha was not hiding within the statue—then who had been manipulating the hearts of the people just now?

　　Edward Carter had no time to think further, realizing he was already deep in a pincer attack. As Edward Carter fought his way out, the Heavenly King of Growth was still below the platform and unable to help, and the Heavenly King of Holding the Nation had also been forced down by Edward Carter, but beside the Maitreya Buddha still stood the other two Heavenly Kings: the Heavenly King of Broad Vision and the Heavenly King of Much Hearing. These two, seeing Edward Carter shatter the golden Buddha, were already furious. One wielded an iron mace, the other a precious umbrella, and both attacked Edward Carter together.

　　Edward Carter suddenly realized that these Four Heavenly Kings possessed extremely high martial arts, far superior to Suo Ming and Gunzi. The Heavenly King of Broad Vision attacked and defended with his twin maces, unleashing seven moves in an instant, sealing off all of Edward Carter’s avenues of escape. The Heavenly King of Much Hearing shouted and thrust his umbrella forward. The combined power of these two was unmatched.

　　Edward Carter took just one step back, moving more than ten feet away, dodging the two Heavenly Kings’ astonishing strike. Glancing sideways, he saw that Philip Carter and the others had long since been swallowed by the crowd and were in dire straits, while Henry Sullivan was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, the Heavenly Kings of Growth and Holding the Nation, weapons in hand, were already approaching the platform.

　　Fight or retreat? The thought had just flashed through Edward Carter’s mind when the Heavenly Kings of Broad Vision and Much Hearing attacked again. Edward Carter took another step back, his body slightly crouched, like a leopard ready to pounce, waiting for the right moment.

　　If he couldn’t kill the Maitreya Buddha, then he would kill these two Heavenly Kings and rid the court of this scourge! With this thought, Edward Carter gathered all his strength. He was the type to grow stronger when facing strong opponents; though surrounded, he felt not the slightest fear.

　　The two Heavenly Kings felt a chill in their hearts and actually halted their attack. Though they had only exchanged two moves, both knew that Edward Carter’s martial arts were extraordinary, and that if he unleashed his full power, it would be truly unstoppable.